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Enemies of the people

"Terrorism will disrupt and destroy lives," writes Robert Reich in American Prospect. "But terrorism itself is not the greatest danger we face."

The former Clinton cabinet member and sometime Democratic presidential candidate explains that the real enemies of modern America are not those who blow up buildings, but those who pray:

The great conflict of the 21st century will not be between the West and terrorism. Terrorism is a tactic, not a belief. The true battle will be between modern civilization and anti-modernists; between those who believe in the primacy of the individual and those who believe that human beings owe their allegiance and identity to a higher authority; between those who give priority to life in this world and those who believe that human life is mere preparation for an existence beyond life; between those who believe in science, reason, and logic and those who believe that truth is revealed through Scripture and religious dogma.

Sure, there may be terrorists plotting to set off dirty A-bombs in urban areas, but Reich wants to make sure that threat doesn't distract his liberal confreres from their real objective: to wipe out religious belief.

You can't say we haven't been warned.

Phil Lawler has been a Catholic journalist for more than 30 years. He has edited several Catholic magazines and written eight books. Founder of Catholic World News, he is the news director and lead analyst at CatholicCulture.org. See full bio.

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Only Hitler has given such a clear call to arms to his fellow believers in “Mein Kampf”. Mr. Reich “kampf” is clear. Let the sons of light be forewarned that this is a struggle to death. Nice Bishops trying to be likable to the elite are only useful fools in a spiritual war. Nevertheless, we stand by the promise of someone greater; “The gates of hell shall not prevail”.

Posted by: Universal -
Jul. 10, 2004 6:46 PM ET USA

Jack, right on! God is the real goal of all science and reason and logic. None of the above without Him. If it were not for the millions of people who get killed through by the consequences of the secular emancipation of man, we could just sit back and let Reich continue his quest. Because in the end, he will stumble - much to his surprise - upon God who loves him. But because he might kill others on his way, we will have to take him and his by the hand and show them a shortcut.

Posted by: Universal -
Jul. 10, 2004 6:36 PM ET USA

Robert Reich does not know us. That maybe because he is ignorant or because we give bad testimony. And maybe it's the latter that is true. I think the greatest problem of today is the unfaithfulness and disbelief of Christians. We are the ones who are lukewarm. Lukewarm in love and in sacrifice. If we weren't, mountains would move + Reich would see that Christianity is not a threat like fanatic religions or secular totalitarianism. It is the real hope of mankind, straddling both reason and faith

Posted by: -
Jul. 10, 2004 11:21 AM ET USA

I'm still burning up at this incredibly stupid statement. Terrorism IS a belief. Jihad, a.k.a. "holy war", is a Muslim tenet, not merely a tactic.
Reich's co-religionists in the Church of Science, Reason and Logic seem to be the same people who refuse to believe that human life begins at conception, that a male can marry a male, that the universe popped out of nothing, that the human rational soul can come into being by purely naturalistic causes.

Posted by: -
Jul. 09, 2004 9:29 AM ET USA

Reich, a ludicrous simpleton, is an effective mouthpiece for modernism. His breed MAY be dying out, relic of tired 60s marxism that he is.

Posted by: -
Jul. 09, 2004 9:26 AM ET USA

Actually, Mr. Reich has given a pretty good analysis of things! I suspect, however, that he and I are in diametrically opposed camps. As regards his comments regarding "those who believe in science, reason, and logic and those who believe that truth is revealed through Scripture and religious dogma," I would change that to read "those who believe science, reason and logic contradict the claims of dogma and Scripture and those who don't."

Posted by: John J Plick -
Jul. 08, 2004 10:13 PM ET USA

Phil, I don't think you get it. You published this letter and then you want "politically correct" comments?
You amaze me!
Men came across the ocean at the peril of their lives...this nation in fact was founded..., and men have died in this nation's wars to escape such nonsensical tyranny masquerading as debate and politics!
This man is as close to a living breathing Nazi as I would ever wish to listen to,... and he even represents the Democratic party???
Don't provoke me JP

Posted by: -
Jul. 08, 2004 8:36 PM ET USA

So - according to Reich - if you are a person of faith, you don't believe in science, reason and logic...?
Hmmm. Maybe Mr. Reich could benefit from a reading of St. Thomas Aquinas who found reason/logic and faith not to be contradictory, but complementary.

Posted by: Jim E -
Jul. 08, 2004 5:52 PM ET USA

I cannot believe that Reich's comments were published. At least the secularists are now truly out in the open with their war against God. We better not sit back and take it. It is time to stand up and be counted. I wonder if the senior clergy still does not "get the picture."
I cannot

Posted by: -
Jul. 08, 2004 5:41 PM ET USA

Is it not time to sound the trumpet and proclaim a new holy CRUSADE ?!

Posted by: -
Jul. 08, 2004 4:08 PM ET USA

The battle within the Western World is against the latitudinarian "humanists" who believe that religion, at best, is a matter of private feelings and that our greatest concerns are to ensure "reproductive health" and to protect "Gaia" from the "disease" of humanity. The multiculturalists really want to give Muslims a big hug. If we all could just be nice. "We're sorry we hurt your feelings, Mr. Terrorist-mass-murder. We all just want the same things, don't we?" Apparently not.

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